Groups glad to see end of R-word'

SOUTHGATE — The ‘R-word’ is no longer part of Michigan’s official business.

None of the state’s civil or criminal statutes include the term ‘retarded,’ thanks to the stroke of Lt. Gov. Brian Calley’s pen. Advocates for the developmentally disabled say it’s a long time coming.

‘It sure was,” said Kevin McGuckin, CEO of Arkay Inc. and a volunteer at ARC Downriver, which provides educational and social services for developmentally disabled children and their families.

“For a long time, people with disabilities were segregated from everyone and words like that only made it worse. I’d like to think this (is) another step away from an era of isolation.”

Advertisement

The term has long been considered derogatory and insulting to people with metal or physical disabilities and their families.

McGuckin’s company has locations in Southgate, Taylor, Flat Rock and Oakland County and works to enhance clients’ job skills. Arkay also offers job-placement services and, like ARC Downriver, sponsors a variety of social programs.

Calley signed legislation Friday that removed the terms “retarded” and “mental retardation” from state statutes.

“The former, antiquated term is hurtful and dehumanizing to our fellow Michiganders who have developmental or intellectual disabilities,” Calley said after signing the bill in Gov. Rick Snyder’s absence. “In addition, the stigma associated with that term too often becomes a barrier to those in need of services or employment.

“It’s an example that we all should follow in our personal and professional lives so that every Michigander is treated with respect.”

Calley signed 15 bills, including one sponsored by Rep. Patrick Somerville, R-New Boston, that replaces the term “severely mentally retarded” with “developmentally disabled” in the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Act.

Rep. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, introduced a bill that made a similar change in language that allows intermediate school districts to create services for children with disabilities.

McGuckin said he hopes for the day when ‘disabled’ shuffles out of the lexicon, too.

“We hope that’s redefined,” he said. “I think today, we’re less inclined to look at people and see what they can’t do.

“It’s more about seeing what people are capable of and what they choose to do and helping them do that.”

ARC Downriver was founded in Wyandotte in 1953 as the Dowrniver Association for Mentally Retarded Children after two couples who were members of the Detroit Association for Retarded Children decided the area needed such an organization closer to home.

In its earliest days, the association brought parents of mentally and physically disabled children together to discuss ways they raised their children and, in late 1954, a classroom program began for children. The initial class of 26 ranged from 5 to 20 years old.

Today, ARC Downriver offers its services to families in 18 of the 19 Downriver communities.

Use of the term ‘retarded’ was stricken from federal statutes and other publications in 2010. Michigan was one of just a handful of states that used the term in official documents and law before Calley signed the bills last week.

The American Medical Association has encouraged the use of ‘mentally disabled’ for several years.

GLBT groups recently took a similar approach to discourage the derogatory use of the word ‘gay,’ and partnered with the NBA to produce a public service announcement.

Contact Scott Held at 1-734-246-0865 or sheld@heritage.com. Follow him on Facebook and @ScottHeld45 on Twitter.